The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) has opened applications for a nationwide know-how innovation competitors providing a N10 million prize pool to Nigerian startups and innovation groups creating options for underserved communities.
According to an announcement from the USPF, the Changemaker Challenge, launched on November 2, 2026, seeks homegrown info and communications know-how (ICT) options addressing challenges in agriculture, schooling, healthcare, monetary inclusion, and clear and inexpensive power.
Applications are open to Nigerian-based innovation groups and early-stage startups throughout the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) till November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. West Africa Time.
USPF competitors to bridge Nigeria’s ICT hole
The competitors, applied in partnership with Ubulu Africa, may also provide chosen members nationwide recognition and a four-week incubation programme to assist develop their options.
According to the USPF, the initiative is knowledgeable by its 2024 ICT hole examine, which recognized 87 clusters with an estimated inhabitants of 23.37 million folks in unserved and underserved areas with restricted or no entry to telecommunications providers.
The Fund mentioned digital instruments may assist deal with challenges in these communities, notably in important sectors comparable to farming, schooling, healthcare, power and monetary providers.
How the competitors will work
The competitors is open to groups comprising between two and 5 members, all aged 18 and above. Participation is free, and candidates are anticipated to current sensible ICT-enabled options addressing particular issues outlined within the competitors.
Entries will probably be assessed based mostly on the readability of their ICT part, their relevance to the printed downside statements and proof that the proposed options can work for the communities they’re designed to serve.
Following the screening course of, 50 groups will probably be chosen to advance to the following stage. The choice will embrace one crew from every of the 36 states and the FCT, alongside 13 extra groups chosen based mostly on benefit.
- The chosen groups will showcase their improvements at Regional Demo Days organised throughout Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
- One crew from every zone will subsequently advance to the National Demo Day, the place the highest three members will share the N10 million prize pool.
All six nationwide finalists may also take part in a four-week incubation programme designed to assist the additional growth of their options.
USPF targets grassroots innovators
Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Odiong Akpan, Chief Executive Officer of Ubulu Africa, mentioned the competitors is meant to determine innovators with sensible options to challenges affecting underserved communities, no matter their geographical location.
- “Innovation should not be limited by geography. Through the USPF Changemaker Challenge, we want to reach innovators across Nigeria who understand the challenges facing unserved and underserved communities and have practical solutions to address them,” Akpan mentioned.
He inspired innovation groups with promising ICT-enabled options to use and use the chance to showcase their concepts and entry assist for additional growth.
Interested candidates can entry the eligibility necessities, printed downside statements and software type by means of the USPF web site at uspf.gov.ng.
ICT hole in Nigeria
Aside from the USPF examine, a recent report by the GSMA revealed that Nigeria accounted for an estimated 140 million folks within the cellular web utilization hole in 2025.
According to the group, the determine represents Nigerians who lived throughout the footprint of cellular broadband networks however didn’t use cellular web providers, highlighting the size of the nation’s connectivity challenge regardless of community availability.
The GSMA defines the cellular web utilization hole as individuals who reside throughout the footprint of a cellular broadband community however don’t use cellular web providers.
